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Podcast: The S1E1 Podcast
Episode: S1E1: Welcome Back, Kotter
Description: "Welcome Back, Kotter" was a classic sitcom that first premiered on September 9, 1975, on the ABC network. The show was created by Gabe Kaplan, who also played the character, Gabe Kotter, a former Sweathog who returns to his alma mater to teach a group of underprivileged students. Kaplan drew on his own experiences growing up in Brooklyn to create the show's setting and characters. The Sweathogs, a group of lovable but misguided students were based on his own high school friends. A young John Travolta was cast as the charismatic lead Sweathog, Vinnie Barbarino. The show even took on a...